I'm sorry if this isn't the right place for this post. Let me know, and I will take it down. Major venting, and might be a long post.
I've been lurking on this sub for a while. I've been inspired, motivated, angered, and more thanks to those of who who have shared what they are feeling and going through. I was brought up in a right wing family, in a small right wing town, and some friends of mine and I are some of the only progressive-minded people around here, so it's hard to have a serious talk with anyone.
I work at Price Chopper/Market 32, who recently merged with Tops Markets. They made nearly $5 billion in profits in 2021. Like everywhere else, payroll is cut to a disgusting degree. I work in the dairy department, and over the past 10 years, I've had so many assistants and part-timers lose hours, or not be replaced, after they quit until I've been essentially alone for the past year when we've been at our worst payroll-wise. I am currently at $17 per hour, and it doesn't do jack shit (more on that later).
The other day a new zone director (basically a district manager) took over, and already called all the store managers and told them to cut hours even more. Our manager called for a huddle (meeting) out back, and broke the news to the department managers. What they want to have happen, is basically have ALL department managers work alone, and MAYBE there will be a part-time closer in some of the departments. In the dairy department, that's already brutal enough for me, but imagine being the bakery, or meat department, or produce manager. All that donut-frying, meat-cutting, and fruit-prepping ON TOP of stocking and paperwork and cleaning, now has to somehow be done ALONE by the department heads. And like I said, there MIGHT be a few closers throughout the week to help.
The store I work in is out of town, but still in a relatively conservative area, so most of the managers are the “kids don't wanna work” crowd. But you can see it on their faces – they are exhausted, and their faces turned blood red when my manager told them how badly hours to going to be cut. I only mention that part because I've been wondering how I can go about getting everyone on board with a strike or unionizing if need be, but this may not be the team that goes through with it.
Folks….I'm fucking tired. I'm burned out, frustrated, stressed, and even a bit scared. I don't even see the point in all this anymore. Maybe it's my fault I don't care about anything enough to pursue it in college and getting better paying jobs, but that's just how it is. My main hobbies are reading fantasy books and watching movies, but I've done neither in months because I'm so stressed about spending money.
My car broke down a few months ago, and I had to empty out what little savings I had in order the pay for it being fixed. Because of that, I had to move back into my parents house.
For the 5th time.
I'm 34.
Yes it's pathetic, go ahead and laugh. But at 40 hours a week, alone doing the job, I'm seriously trying and it's just not good enough. I barely have time to see the few friends left, it's hard to make new ones because they make fun of my living position, I'm too stressed to attempt any new hobbies, and a love life? Forget it. I've haven't been dating in years because of how depressed and broke I am – it's not fair to any potential girlfriend, so I've more or less given up on it.
I don't know how much more I can take. How can your company make billions, and you can't afford employees? What am I supposed to do a year from now? 10 years from now? What about when my parents pass away, and I can't afford the house if they even leave it to me? I hate all this shit.
Again I'm so sorry if this is the wrong place for this. I'm just burned out, guys. This is too overwhelming.